Today Bayonetta finally went on sale in Japan! I bet some of you are even playing right now!

Many, many things happened during the development of Bayonetta, a process which started three years ago. However, I’m finally glad that we are able to get the game into the hands of gamers, and at the same time, I am incredibly thankful to all those who have supported Bayonetta, everyone involved in the production, as well as the development team.

We developed Bayonetta with the idea in mind that it should be an “action game of the highest caliber,” and it became a bit of an ultimate title for us, containing everything we are capable of in one package. Put another way, it was a “challenge to ourselves” having been previously involved in numerous action games. We founded a new studio, and had to start everything completely from scratch, but during production we always felt the fun of making games, and the fun that can be had from making games. Since we felt that way, I think we were able to fully exploit our know how to the very limits, and run full steam ahead. Completing Bayonetta was, I feel, and incredibly important step for PlatinumGames as a studio.

Games are entertainment that allow you to forget about time and just have fun. I’ve taken many things through this hobby we call gaming, so I really hope that even just a little piece of Bayonetta stays with all those people who pick up a controller and play the game, as if there was something to learn from the experience. Bayonetta development as a multiplatform title was filled with many experiences, but all I ever felt was “the desire to have as many people to enjoy Bayonetta as possible.” I’m taking them all as lessons myself, and in turn using them as motivation to make something even better in the future, so I would appreciate all of your support.

And if you have played Bayonetta and have opinions, feelings, or even hopes for a sequel (?), please send them my way.

To change the subject, did anyone catch the special on MTV Japan, MTV GAME SPOT supported by BAYONETTA? Bayonetta appeared as the VJ, and her Japanese voice actress, also used in the Japanese TV commercials, was none other than Atsuko Tanaka! When I went with Kamiya-san to sit in on the voice recording sessions, maybe it was just a matter of course, but I completely fell in love with the voice, grinning from ear to ear and entertaining my own personal wild delusions like, “If we ever made a Japanese-language version, this is her voice.” Thanks to show director Sakuma-san’s passion and playfulness, it turned out to be a program you can really feast your eyes and ears on. If you are interested, definitely check it out. It will be airing again on 10/29 from 9-10pm, 10/31 from 5-6am, and 11/1 from 4-5am on MTV Japan. MTV is available through many outlets like cable networks across Japan, on Ch. 270 for Sky Perfect TV, and on Ch. 232 for Sky Perfect e2 users.

And if we ever do any more Japanese language recording, for an anime, or a sequel, or the like, I definitely want to use Tanaka-san again.

Finally, a few marketing updates. First up is the advertisement on Shibuya 109 in Tokyo. Living in the Kansai (Osaka/Kyoto) region of Japan, it was hard to feel for how this actually turned out, but once I laid my eyes on the real thing, it is truly incredible, isn’t it? It left a huge impression on me as I stood gazing up at the ad amongst a crowd of people. It will be up until 11/5, so if you are heading out to Shibuya, have a look for yourself.

Next up are the ads in Shinjuku. These have a little bit of extra fun added as we made the ad a sort of “tear away.” What did you think about them? These will only be up until 11/1, so if you get the chance and want to try a “tear-away-ad,” head to Shinjuku and tear one of the cards off the ad. You might even see Kamiya-san and I “tearing away” at the ad ourselves.

So now it is on to working on promotions for the Western release of the game, but there are still action figures, etc. to be released in Japan, and I’ve got some ideas on how to further expand the world the game introduced, so keep supporting Bayonetta!

(This post originally appeared on the Japanese Bayo-Blog on October 29, 2009.)

Yeah i think PlatinumGames should post the MTV spot game as well as Bayonetta program on TV (Better with English subtitle), we are fans going to die to know what is in those programs.

Although buying an original game in my Vietnamse country is so hard (there is no distributor) but i will try as hard as i can, since i love Kamiya-san so much from the time he was in Clover (and staff too).

I hope a lot of people BUY BAYONETTA! A true magnum opus in every sense. I could not ask for more: the art, style, cutscenes, story, gameplay etc. The DMC games are some of my favorite because they have a unique gothic style, yet this brings it all to a whole new level and then some. Bayonetta is like a spiritual successor to Kamiya-san's DMC. Please make sequels, but I would be equally pleased with a new IP next. Also, please unveil Mikami-san's project as soon as possible. I bow humbly to all at Platinum Games. (Oh yeah, I still demand a full art book like Okami's, thank you).

I've been playing the heck out of the demo I 'snuck down' from the Japanese Marketplace, and I only have one suggestion: don't make us wait 'til next year! :)

Seriously – I know it's too late to change the schedule now, but some of us would much rather have Bayonetta in our hands this holiday season than "yet another squad-based shooter #3,289." Waiting is sooooo hard…

Just finished the game on the PS3 today. I love the game and the soundtrack. I understand that that the PS3 version is ported by Sega and they did a great job to make it available for the PS3. The game could have been better with a more consistent frame rates and less loading time for each minor event sequence. I wonder if a data install option would have fix the problems?

i live in the U.S. so i havent had a chance 2 put my hands on it yet, but i just hope that there will be a anime comming sometime soon. i think the cast of characters are well suited 4 a great action anime and would even make better if it were done in c.g. thanks 2 the entire staff 4 making this game!

Thank you so much Platinum Games for the piece of ART you gave us with Bayonetta.
Words can't describe how awesome an experience it has been playing this game.

People here are right. Don't make a sequel like I earlier asked because now that I finished the game I found out that it is so perfect that I doubt anything else in this gen can top it. Really, the game is great as it is, you must be proud of it!

Seriously, thank you for all the love you put in this project.

I will buy this game again for the 360 as soon as it's available in EU too! A collector's edition and a few more costumes for Bayonetta wouldn't be bad too ;)

Hello all at Platinum Games,
I must say, I've been going through the PS3 import of Bayonetta, and it's fantastic. (I will be sure to pick up a domestic copy as well, when released in USA). This game surpassed my expectations — greatly. I knew from day one, when the title was announced that I'd purchase it. But, truthfully, I didn't expect much. I was just going off Kamiya's accolades. But, there's a saying, "Trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice…is pretty much impossible." What has happened with Bayonetta is exactly that….'lightning was caught once again." First with the original Devil May Cry and now this. I also need to express my feelings that I know one man is not responsible for a project like this alone — it takes a team. Many times, leaders of teams go elsewhere with strong accolades/resumes, but their newer products fall short. That is NOT the case with Bayonetta. Everyone must've been on the same page. That is no easy task. I've been a huge gamer for many years, and am a big fan of SEGA, CAPCOM, KONAMI …to name a few. I'm so happy that SEGA has a new property to be proud of. It's been so long…..also, Bayonetta (like the original Devil May Cry) prove that gameplay and fun are king in gaming. More games need to be developed with strong 16-Bit roots in mind…where a game is actually a 'game,' and there are TRUE boss-battles. Many games in my mind don't even have real boss-battles anymore. It's another art that's been lost. In sum, for action fans, Bayonetta is a must buy.

I was actually hoping that you guys would make a Godhand 2 for the PS3 since most of the things you had done as boss structures and killing in Bayonetta has almost the same mechanic which provides the same satisfying feel just like before. I've beaten your game and well dam i'd like to see Gene back in the game again :D PS3 of course

Fighting and Action games are all I play nowadays and there are basically only a few companies I can depend on for this. I know Bayonetta will have a special place in my heart and will be my favorite action game until you guys can top yourselves again.

Of course we want a sequel! Bayonetta is so cool! But who would win in a fight… her or Gene?

I just wanted to congradgulate the development team for making such a great product! I've watched a bunch of live-streams and vids and I gotta say I'm very impressed, even if the technical performance is a bit lacking in spots.

It would be a total shame not to make a sequel. The universe you've all created is very interesting and has a ton of room to explore! I know a few people here want the game to pose as a stand-alone masterpiece, but I believe there is still room for improvement and I really want to see this as a franchise continue to expand and make a huge mark on the action genre. Besides, I'm sure a lot of people (myself included) are getting bored with the old franchises in this field.